Flanagan's first year a wild ride

Faith Flanagan was named Second Team All-Conference after leading the Erskine College women's field lacrosse team in scoring, and her 3.5 grade point average (on a four-point scale) was good enough for the honour roll in the spring. Flanagan will attend Long Island University Brooklyn on a Division 1 scholarship in the fall. Cory Smith/The Beacon Herald

It wasn’t how Faith Flanagan envisioned her first year at Erskine College.

The 19-year-old was named Second Team All-Conference after leading the women’s field lacrosse team in scoring, and her 3.5 grade point average (on a four-point scale) was good enough for the honour roll in the spring.

Sounds perfect, right? But Flanagan wasn’t challenged, and she was one of many players who weren’t on the same page as Erskine’s coach, who has since been fired.

Now the St. Mike’s grad will have to earn her time on the field when she attends Long Island University Brooklyn on a Division 1 scholarship in the fall.

“I’m really excited, just because last year wasn’t the challenge I expected and this year I’ve seen the (LIU) team and they’ve got some talent,” Flanagan said. “I know I have some work to put in, otherwise I’m not going to be seeing the field. I’m excited to go there and push myself and be able to play against the best and with the best.”

Flanagan left her mark at Erskine, finishing her freshman season 11th in the conference in shots (100), 12th in shots on goal (76), 13th in goals (43), and 16th in points (53). She spent time as an attack but also played some defence.

“It was definitely an eye opener to see the talent that is out there on other teams,” she said. “I was surprised with how well I ended up doing. I didn’t expect to start my first year, and playing every game was really nice.”

That Flanagan has earned a pair of scholarships in a sport she hated at first is a surprise in itself.

After trying – and enjoying – box (indoor) lacrosse, Flanagan didn’t have the same passion for the field version.

“After a couple hours being out there with the girls I fell in love with it, too, and I’ve been playing it since I was 14.”

She played club in Kitchener-Waterloo and also competed for Everest Academy, a Toronto-area private lacrosse school that accepts outside students. That’s where Flanagan met Ashley Rutz, who coached Everest and the provincial girls U15 and U19 programs.

“Having her as a coach was amazing and what I needed to get where I am,” Flanagan said.

It didn’t take long for the rising star to recognize there could be a future in the sport.

“I was realizing I was decent at it and I love to run, and field lacrosse you run up and down the field. I loved working with the girls, there are 11 on the field as opposed to five (in box lacrosse). It’s faster paced.”

Now that Erskine is behind her, Flanagan is preparing for the upcoming season. She trains during her spare time between working three jobs that typically take up between 12-14 hours a day.

“I’m pushing myself as much as I can because I want to get on the field when I get there,” she said. “I’m going to have a good coach who will teach me new skills, and I’m going to be able to try it out on the field. I know I’m not going to be as successful as I was at Erskine because it’s a totally different game, and I’m just hoping to be a good team player and help my teammates out. I want to be an asset rather than hurting them in any way.”